[01/23/12 - 08:40 AM]"The NFL on CBS" Scores With Highest Rating for Afternoon AFC Championship Game in 18 YearsCBS spins the numbers for Sunday, January 22.

[via press release from CBS]

"THE NFL ON CBS" SCORES WITH HIGHEST RATING FOR AFTERNOON AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN 18 YEARS

CBS Sports' coverage of the 2012 AFC Championship Game featuring the New England Patriots defeating the Baltimore Ravens, 23-20, on Sunday, Jan. 22 (3:00-6:15 PM, ET), earned an average overnight household rating/share of 29.1/51. This was the highest rating in the metered markets for an afternoon AFC Championship in 18 years (1/23/1994; 29.5/57; Kansas City-Buffalo; NBC).

The Network's coverage in the comparable window in 2010 earned a 28.4/50 (New York Jets-Indianapolis) and last year earned a 31.3/46 (New York Jets-Pittsburgh) in the late window, which was the highest-rated AFC Championship game in 24 years in the metered markets.

This year's AFC Championship Game rating peaked at a 34.9/56 from 6:00-6:15 PM, ET.